SPECTACULAR footage has shown a swarm of dragonflies invading a beach leaving sunbathers screaming and scrambling for cover.
The relaxing Saturday afternoon of many beachgoers was interrupted when dragonflies took over, forcing people to take shelter.
Jennifer Serenson via StoryfulSunbathers were interrupted on Saturday afternoon when a swarm of dragonflies invaded the beach[/caption]
Jennifer Serenson via StoryfulPeople took cover under tents and towels to try and protect themselves from the insects[/caption]
royalsocietypublishing.orgThis species of dragonfly migrate south from Canada and the norther US between July and October[/caption]
One man posted a clip of the bizarre phenomenon that occurred on a Rhode Island beach on X.
The invasion, which happened on Saturday afternoon, was labelled a “dragonfly apocalypse”.
“I was enjoying a nice day at Misquamicut State Beach until we endured a dragonfly apocalypse,” Stephanie Martin told Boston ABC affiliate WCVB.
Video footage showed sunbathers on the crowded beach searching for cover as dragonflies began to invade.
Screams could be heard in the footage as people were overwhelmed by the swarm.
Some, however, seemed unbothered by the huge swarm and could be seen standing still and filming on their phones.
Thousands of these tiny insects were seen whizzing through the air.
According to experts, dragonflies migrate south from Canada and the northern US to Mexico and the Gulf Coast, between the months of July and October.
The National Science Foundation say that the dragonflies seen on Saturday, July 27, usually reproduce between July and August.
The particular species of the dragonfly invasion was the common green darner.
“Males are often observed holding races over ponds and duel in spectacular aerial battles for the rights to mate with females,” the foundation says.
Taking this into account, it appears that this spectacle was caused by mating behaviour of the male dragonflies.
And this would explain why the dragonflies’ invaded the Misquamicut State Beach in Rhode Island.
Green Darner Dragonfly
The species swarmed a Rhode Island beach over the weekend as the insects migrated south. Here are some more facts about the green darner, according to the US National Science Foundation:
It is one of the largest dragonflies. Males range from 70-76 mm in length and females from about 68-80 mm.
They dragonflies are green and reddish-brown, and females are often slightly lighter in colour.
This species prefer still or slow-moving fresh water, such as lakes, ponds and rivers.
The breeding area of the green darner ranges from the northernmost part of the US, all the way south to Panama.
They usually reproduce in the summer months of July and August.
Males are often observed holding races over ponds to get the rights to mate with the female darner.
Some social media users even compared the event to a Biblical plague.
“Who had dragonfly plague on their apocalypse bingo?” one X user said.
“Like a zombie apocalypse,” another user commented.
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